december 2014 - january 2015 thespiresite2.stjames-hamptonhill.org.uk/spire/2000s/2014/... ·...
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AROUND THE SPIRE P4 RECIPE FOR LIFE P6 WHAT’S ON P7
stjames-hamptonhill.org.uk FREE please take a copy
DECEMBER 2014 - JANUARY 2015
to all our readersto all our readersto all our readers
HappyHappyHappy ChristmasChristmasChristmas
thespire
2 I thespire
Our Church
Registered Charity No 1129286
Bell Ringing Susan Horner 020 8979 9380
Brownies Girlguiding.org.uk or 0800 1 69 59 01
Charities and Links Committee
Ann Peterken 020 8891 5862
Children’s Champion
Stuart Richardson 020 8890 4854
Church Cleaning Debbie Nunn 020 8979 3078
Church Flowers Coryn Robinson 020 8979 6786
Churches Together Around Hampton
Ann Peterken 020 8891 5862
Deanery Synod Ann Peterken 020 8891 5862
Electoral Roll Jane Gibson 020 8941 6003
Eco-Group Catherine Gash 020 8783 0563
Guides Girlguiding.org.uk or 0800 1 69 59 01
Hall Bookings
Jane Gibson 020 8941 6003
Hall Tea / Coffee Rotas
Clare Ryan 079 6413 1135
Mission Partner Link Liz Wilmot 020 8977 9434
Mozambique/Angola Link
Gwynneth Lloyd 020 8943 0709
Music and Worship Committee
Peter Vannozzi 020 8979 2069
PCC Secretary Clare Ryan 079 6413 1135
Planned Giving Committee
Gwynneth Lloyd 020 8943 0709
Properties Committee
Bryan Basdell 020 8979 2040
Safeguarding Officer Jane Newman 020 8979 6154
Scout Group Paul Fitchett 020 8941 7186
Servers Lesley Mortimer 020 8941 2345
Sidespersons Janet Taylor 020 8979 0046
St James’s Ark Debbie Nunn 020 8979 3078
St James’s Hospitality / Parish Breakfast
Clare Ryan and Kirstie Craig 079 6413 1135
St James’s Players Martin Hinckley 020 8979 0528
The Shell Seekers (Sunday School)
Term-time in the hall from 9.25am (not first in month)
Stuart Richardson 020 8890 4854
Tools with a Mission Janet Nunn 020 8979 6325
Theatre Club Peter Hale 020 979 9287
Visitors’ Group Liz Wilmot 020 8977 9434
Weekly Pew Sheet Jane Gibson 020 8941 6003
St James’s Church is on the
corner of St James’s Road
and Park Road. There is
ample parking in the road.
Finding us
STORIES, FEATURES
If you have any ideas, or would like to write for the
magazine, please contact the Editor, Janet Nunn.
Telephone: 020 8979 6325
Email: [email protected]
AROUND THE SPIRE
If you have any news, please contact Susan Horner:
Email: [email protected]
WHAT’S ON
Nick Bagge is listings editor. If you have an event to
be considered for inclusion, contact him.
Email: [email protected]
WEBSITE / SPIRE BY EMAIL / YOUNG SPIRE
Prill Hinckley is webmaster. If you would like to
receive the magazine by email, please contact her.
Prill also compiles the Young Spire page.
Email: [email protected]
CIRCULATION
thespire is available free from church and other
outlets. It is also delivered across the parish and
posted further afield. Contact Susan Horner:
Telephone: 020 8979 9380
Email: [email protected]
Write to: 5 St James’s Avenue, Hampton Hill,
Middlesex TW12 1HH
NEXT ISSUE / COPY DEADLINE
The February issue is published on Fri 31 January.
All copy should be with us by Mon 5 January.
Credits PRODUCTION
Design Nick Bagge
Proofreaders Susan Horner and Dick Wilde
PUBLISHING
Printer Justin Hollingsworth 020 8686 4481
thespire magazine is printed on
paper that is sourced from well-managed
forests, as laid down by the Forest
Stewardship Council.
© St James’s Church 2015. Unauthorised
reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without
written permission from the editor.
Manuscripts, photographs and artwork are accepted
on the basis that thespire does not accept liability
for loss or damage to them. We cannot print anything
subject to copyright. Views expressed in thespire are not necessarily those of the PCC of St James.
Please recycle this
magazine after use
Come and worship with us!
FOR ALL THE CHRISTMAS SERVICES AND WHAT’S ON LOCALLY SEE PAGE SEVEN
Vicar
The Revd Peter Vannozzi (pictured, right)
Peter was born in Hanwell in 1962, but owes
his surname to his Italian great-grandfather.
He was ordained in 1987. Peter is a
Governor of Hampton Hill Junior School and
a Trustee of the Hampton and Hampton Hill
Voluntary Care Group.
Telephone: 020 8979 2069
Email: [email protected]
Clergy
Curate
The Revd David Bell
David was born in Skipton in
1952. He is a self-supporting
minister, ordained in June
2012, and working during the
week in events sponsorship management.
Telephone: 077 1057 2498 Email: [email protected]
Officials
Churchwarden
Carole Greville-Giddings
Carole has a background in
social work, helps run The
Ark, and is a chorister.
Telephone: 020 8979 6592
Email: [email protected]
Treasurer
Don Barrett
Before retiring, Don worked at
the Church Commissioners
for England, who manage the
Church of England’s assets.
Telephone: 020 8979 3331
Email: [email protected]
Organist / Choirmaster
Vacant
All enquiries about music
and the choir should be
directed via the Parish
Office
Telephone: 020 8941 6003
Churchwarden
Nick Bagge
Nick is a former television
journalist, now working at a
local theatre.
Telephone: 020 8783 0871
Email: [email protected]
SUPPORT US
The more volunteers, the more we can do
Support us by regular giving, it’s easy to do
Leave a gift in your will, a lasting legacy
From the Editor...
Sunday 4 January
Epiphany of the Lord
Isaiah 60.1-6; Ephesians 3.1-12;
Matthew 2.1-12
Sunday 11 January Baptism of Christ
Genesis 1.1-5; Acts 19.1-7; Mark 1.4-11
Sunday 18 January
2nd Sunday of Epiphany
1 Samuel 3.1-10[11-20]; Revelation 5.1-10;
John 1.43-51
Sunday 25 January
Conversion of St Paul
Jeremiah 1.4-10 ; Acts 9.1-22;
Matthew 19.27-30
Mondays-Fridays (not Tues)
9.15am Morning Prayer
Tuesdays 9.30am Holy Communion
Parish Office
Administrator
Jane Gibson
For all general enquiries and
hall bookings. The office is
open Monday, Wednesday
and Friday mornings.
Telephone: 020 8941 6003
Email: [email protected]
Address: St James’s Church, 46 St James’s
Road, Hampton Hill TW12 1DQ
Sundays 8am Holy Communion
9.30am Parish Communion
Sunday 7 December 2nd Sunday of Advent
8am and 11am Isaiah 40.1-11;
2 Peter 3.8-15a; Mark 1.1-8
9.30am Christingle Luke 1.46-55
Sunday 14 December
3rd Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 61.1-4,8-11; 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24;
John 1.6-8,19-28
Sunday 21 December
4th Sunday of Advent
2 Samuel 7.1-11,16; Romans 16.25-27’
Luke 1.26-38
Sunday 28 December
Holy Innocents
Jeremiah 31.15-17; 1 Corinthians 1.26-29;
Matthew 2.13-18
thespire is published nine times a year for the Parochial Church Council of St James.
We make no charge for this magazine, but we hope that you will contribute towards the production
costs to enable us to expand our important outreach across the parish.
If you are a regular reader please consider making an annual donation. Cheques should be made
payable to The PCC of St James and sent to Spire Appeal c/o the Parish Office.
Christmas preparations seem to come earlier in the
shops each year. It is difficult to cope with Christmas
jingles and decorations when it is still only autumn with
falling leaves and dramatic colours.
Music forms an integral part of all our Christmas
festivities and in this edition we have two articles
celebrating music. Veronica Barnes, Head of Music at
LEH Junior, gives us an insight into her preparations for
Christmas and what it means to her and the girls she
teaches, and Jack Gostling has chosen his 10 favourite
Christmas pieces of music.
One of the most popular Christmas celebrations in our church is the Christingle Service
on Sunday 7 December. The church is packed with people of all ages and at the end of the
service everyone stands in a big circle round the church with an orange. All the candles in
the oranges are lit and the church lights turned off as we sing the special hymn.
On behalf of The Spire Committee may I wish you a happy Christmas and peaceful new
year. Details of the Christmas services are on Page 7. You will be welcome at any of them.
Best wishes
Janet Janet Nunn
Leader Column with Peter Vannozzi
Thought & Prayer
Taking time to talk to God
Will they manage the journey of 69 miles from Nazareth to
Bethlehem? In those days, this was a considerable distance.
Will Mary cope with the traumas of childbirth at a time when it
proved fatal for many, both mothers and children?
What is the point of telling us all this anyway?
It becomes clearer when shepherds are introduced. They were
not well regarded in Jesus’s day. Shepherds had a reputation for
criminal behaviour, and religious negligence. Yet there they are,
these smelly, dodgy outcasts.
It is to them that the heavens are opened – they hear the
angels sing, and cannot but rush to find something stupendous.
They find a child. It is not a king they find, in a conventional
sense, or someone powerful, in the usual sense of the word.
They find a new-born baby in a manger.
The plot twists, and it becomes clear that the story of Jesus is
to be quite a bumpy ride!
In the beginning...
Bearing in mind that We’re all stories in the end, how do you
react to the beginning of Jesus’s story this Christmas? Is there
one thing that strikes you? If so, why do you think that is?
Christmas invites us to enter into the story of Jesus, and to
see that it is about us. The shepherds on the perimeter of
‘proper’ society: are you there?
The uncertainty as a new life comes into the world: is that
yours, too?
The joy at a new human life: do you feel it?
The angels’ song of God’s peace: do you yearn for it?
How does your story tie up with the Christmas story? Take
time this Christmas to read Luke 2.1-20.
Jesus will draw you in
I wish you all a very merry Christmas, and a happy 2015. I
hope that both will add to your story positively, though this
can be a difficult time for many.
I hope, also, that Jesus’s story will draw you in, and that he
will be your friend and companion, your stories overlapping each
other, and his adding richly to yours.
We’re all stories in the end.
Adding us to the story
counselling and domestic abuse recovery for children.
Richmond Welcare has moved from Twickenham Green to
Parkside House in East Sheen. It will not offer its services there,
but take them out to schools and communities throughout the
borough. It hopes that churches will continue to support its work.
As part of its tercentenary outreach, St Anne’s Kew is funding
a MySpace course for a group of Key
Stage 2 children (aged 8-10) who have
suffered domestic violence. It will be run
at a school in Barnes by Richmond
Welcare’s family support worker, Lia
Tiganov (on the left in the photo), and a
colleague from another Welcare centre.
Charity Box Welcare Welcare has recently enjoyed its 120th anniversary celebration
service in Southwark Cathedral, having been founded in 1894 by
the wife of the then Bishop of Rochester as a Christian response
to the many needs of poor families.
It offers its services from six centres across South London and
East Surrey and has an excellent
reputation in those communities.
Welcare supports children up to the age
of 13 and families who are experiencing
challenges in their lives. It provides family
support work, advocacy, volunteer
mentors, skills training, parenting groups,
S teven Moffat, writer and executive producer of the
hit TV shows Doctor Who and Sherlock, amongst
many others, wrote: ‘We’re all stories, in the end.’
What was he talking about? How am I, or you, a
story? What is a ‘story’? One definition is, ‘An
account or recital of an event or a series of
events, either true or fictitious.’
As a human being, am I an account of events? In a
sense, yes. All human beings carry with them their range of
experiences which go to make up their ‘story.’
I might weave my experiences into a coherent whole, and
produce the narrative of my life. I may be happy with it or entirely
the opposite, but there it is, my ‘story.’
Given this, it is no wonder that human beings are constantly
involved in producing stories. They are part of what we are, and
what we do, as human beings.
We’re all stories, in the end.
What is truth and what is fiction?
What makes a good story, whether it be ‘true’ or ‘fictitious’?
As it happens, I think that ‘truth’ and ‘fiction’ are false opposites.
I have read many works of fiction that nonetheless are ‘true’ in
that they accurately depict human nature.
At this time I always like to re-read A Christmas Carol by
Charles Dickens. I find ‘truth’ in this work of fiction. A good story
for me is one that engages me rapidly. Some do not, and I tire of
them quickly, though some novels get better as they go on, so it
can be worth persevering.
I need something to hook me – an interesting character, a
surprising opening chapter, a plot that promises intrigue, a link
with my own life. Or if the story is a biography or autobiography,
some point of connection which means my life has parallels with
the person whose life story I am reading.
We’re all stories in the end.
The Christmas Story
At Christmas, story is central. It begins the story of Jesus. This
story holds my attention. There is human interest. A man and
heavily pregnant woman travelling. There is potential for things
to go horribly wrong.
thespire I 3
Bethlehem today
Each generation retells the Christmas story in its own
way, especially through carols.
Here is a new version of O Little Town of Bethlehem,
bearing in mind the continuing conflict in the Holy Land,
but also the Christmas truce in the trenches in
December 1914.
O little town of Bethlehem,
the crib beneath our tree
makes you seem real, and there we kneel,
in flights of fantasy.
All caught up in the shepherds,
the angels and the star,
we fail to see reality,
the dreadful cost of war.
O little town, like every town,
your streets are filled with life.
While children play their mothers pray
for end to hate and strife.
Where is the Christmas angel
with promises of peace?
What task is ours, to heal the scars,
and make the bloodshed cease?
O little town, I wish that I
could view you like a child:
could only see romantically
the Babe and ‘Virgin mild.’
For then I’d find my pleasure
in jingling bells and sleigh.
No need to ask, to face the task:
have we a role to play?
Sr. Ann Pat Ware 2012
www.ncronline.org
Young voices tell Local and National stories
4 I thespire
T he day has dawned fine, sunny and warm.
The sun is climbing to its zenith and the
temperature is rising to the high twenties. It’s
midsummer and holiday time. We are told it’s
not good to spend too much time sitting in the
garden in the intensity of the morning sun’s rays, so I
reluctantly leave my back garden, make a cup of tea and
ponder the next LEH Junior Department Carol Service!
It’s not long before I am raiding my shelves packed
with music books, many tidy but many not so tidy.
I aim for the Christmas quarter: carols for four-part
choirs, carols for solo voices, carols for treble voices in
two and three parts — what would be good this year?
I have tried, over my years of teaching in a school,
never to repeat a choir carol in a service or in a public
performance. This may seem daunting, but there are
several good, new carols which appear (like the angels)
and surprise you each year.
We were even lucky enough to have a composer/
organist accompanying us for several years when his
granddaughter was in the Junior Department.
His carol Good Cheer became a great favourite of
the choir and certainly brought out the joyfulness of
the occasion.
The story never changes
The good thing about planning any carol service is
that the ‘plot’ doesn’t alter.
Mary and Joseph have to travel to a crowded
Bethlehem before the special baby is born in a stable;
the shepherds are amazed by the glorious and
probably quite frightening sight of the Angel Host
singing their own private song to them; and it all ends
with the homage of the Oriental Wise Men who had
travelled so far, following the strange star
phenomenon.
Christmas is one of the church’s busiest times. The extra
services we put on are just part of a packed calendar of
events. As part of that, every year we welcome hundreds
of children to perform school services. Veronica Barnes,
Head of Music of the Junior Department of The Lady
Eleanor Holles School, starts preparing hers early...
Justin broke down over abuse toll THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND is
examining the personnel files of
thousands of clergymen and women
dating back to the 1950s as part of a
wide-ranging investigation into
historical allegations of child abuse.
The Most Revd Justin Welby,
Archbishop of Canterbury, said the
move is part of a plan to ensure no
allegations of abuse have been
ignored, overlooked or covered up.
The Church has been rocked by recent disclosures of widespread child
abuse and Archbishop Justin conceded that the investigations would
show that ‘there is more that has not been revealed’.
He has also revealed that he regularly listened to victims. ‘It is beyond
description – terrible. I had a meeting with some survivors a few weeks
ago and was giving a talk later that afternoon, somewhere else and on a
completely different subject, but someone asked... about issues of
safeguarding, and to my intense surprise – and I don’t normally do this
sort of thing – I broke down completely.’
He said, ‘It was the shredding effect of hearing what we did – what we
did – to those people and the sense of total failure and betrayal.’
As part of the plan, the Church is to examine the confidentiality of the
confessional – a move which could overturn 1,800 years of tradition.
Canadian war veteran remembers THE GUEST OF HONOUR at
our Remembrance Sunday
service was Lt Col Jean Trudel,
of the Canadian High
Commission, pictured with his
wife Claire. He laid a wreath at
the War Memorial and planted a
cross on each Canadian war
grave. The choir and large
congregation sang O Canada,
the Canadian National Anthem.
The 13 graves are those of
Canadian soldiers who died in a
makeshift military hospital in
Bushy Park during the First
World War. In this centenary
year, it seemed appropriate to
pay tribute to them and to
remember the thousands of
soldiers from other countries
who also gave their lives.
Our Sunday School, the Shell
Seekers, presented Lt Col Trudel
with a card containing a poem
they had written about one of the
soldiers, Richard Coppard.
Sam leaves for a new church post SAMUEL DRAPER, our organist and
choirmaster for the past four years, has
moved to Bermondsey and accepted a
post as organist at the Church of St. Mary
the Virgin, Rotherhithe. This church has a
historic organ, built in 1764, whose tonal
qualities have been preserved so that
it sounds much as it would have done in
Handel’s time. It is particularly suited to
Baroque music, a favourite of Sam’s. He
will also continue to conduct the Oberon
Symphony Orchestra in London.
Sam’s last service with us was on 9 November, Remembrance Sunday,
when Peter expressed our appreciation of his work with us and presented
him with a gift. We wish Sam every success in his new post.
Christmas story
thespire I 5
Different religions but the same excitement
So, all I have to do is to find the appropriate carols
which not only portray the story, but also bring it to
life again in a fun way for the children at LEH Junior
Department to sing and play.
Choosing these carols and teaching them is fun for
me too. At LEH Junior, like most schools, we have
pupils from different religious backgrounds and from
none. However, they all look forward to the
excitement of Christmas. As part of my ‘hymn
practice’ sessions at school I will introduce them to
the different church seasons, Advent being the first
major one at the start of an academic year.
Jesus was a VIP
The central part of Christmas is baby Jesus, whom
we as Christians know as The Son of God. I know
that Jesus is acknowledged in other religions, but as
a prophet, a leader, not The Messiah.
However, in my teaching of the carols in school, I
help the children to see that Jesus was obviously a
very important baby to Jewish people (he was a Jew
himself after all).
The shepherds, who would have been Jewish, left
their sheep and went rushing to see him in Bethlehem.
They couldn’t contain their joy afterwards and sang
their way along the streets in the night hours — with
no thought for the other residents of the town!
The Wise Men who travelled from the East were
most certainly not of the Jewish faith. They brought
special presents for him which showed his kingship,
his priestly calling and foretold his early, painful death
at the hand of the occupying Romans.
The unfamiliar carols...
There is something in the Christmas story for
everyone. I have found over my many years as a
teacher and Head of Music, that the words and music
of the familiar congregational carols, such as While
Shepherds Watched, We Three Kings and O Little
Town of Bethlehem are becoming less familiar to the
young.
However, we are all able to experience the happy,
joyous feeling of the re-telling of the Christmas Story
through both traditional carols and more modern ones
with their infectious rhythms.
Jack’s special day at St Paul’s JACK, SON OF David
and Nicky Hetling,
was confirmed at
St. Paul’s Cathedral on
1 November. They are
pictured on the steps. In
total there were 70
candidates, of whom
nine were also baptised
as well as confirmed.
Jack was baptised at St
James’s in June last
year. We welcome him
as the newest
confirmed member of
our church.
Lent — advance notice of dates TWO DATES for your 2015 diary: Ash Wednesday is 18 February. There
will be services of Holy Communion with ashing at 9.30am and 7.30pm.
The Lent course, entitled Challenges of Today, will begin on Monday 23
February at 7.30pm in church. This will be a series of talks and discussions
about major challenges to society and church. Further details will follow in
the next issue, and in church and on the website.
Children’s Society boxes net £250 THE CONTENTS OF the Childrens’ Society boxes, which many of you have
at home, have now been counted and the total was just under £250. Eight
new households have taken boxes; anyone else wanting one should contact
David Hetling or the church office. We hope for a similar splendid result from
the Christingle candle boxes.
When time stood still THE CHURCH CLOCK has been out of action
recently. The clock was originally installed in
1893 and the mechanism is almost unchanged.
In 1943 the two weights driving chimes and the
hours were replaced by electric motors. The
clock retained its weight, which is re-wound by
a third motor working through a special gearing
system. Unlike the old clock mechanism, which
shrugs off its age, this re-wind gearing system failed recently and needed a
major repair. Because of its age, it is difficult to replace worn parts and
sometimes they have to be specially made. We are grateful to Dick Wilde
for seeing to routine maintenance and adjustment over many years and
calling in the specialists from Derby when required. As we went to print we
were hopeful the clock would be running and the bells chiming again soon.
Charity Christmas Cards sale THANK YOU to everyone who supported the charity Christmas cards sales
recently and helped raise money for various causes. Don’t forget that Ann
Peterken still has Traidcraft gifts available for those last-minute presents!
Help for keeping warm this winter KEEPING WARM keeps you
well. That is the message to
older people this winter from
Richmond Council — part of a
campaign that provides free
home visits for advice and
information on heating,
insulation, benefits, and health.
The cold causes 26,000
excess winter deaths annually in the UK — about 90 people locally. As part
of its Winter Warmth campaign, the council is working with local providers to
help older people across the borough before the winter weather kicks in.
During the visits, specialists will advise on heating, insulation and boiler
repairs; offer free water-saving devices, smoke alarms, radiator reflector
panels, and draught-proofing; how to lower bills; and eligible benefits. To
arrange for a free home visit telephone 0800 118 2327.
RECIPE for LIFE with Griselda Barrett
Young Spire with Prill Hinckley
Mince Pies
6 I thespire
T he ingredients of the
mince pie are traceable to
the 13th century, when
returning European
crusaders brought with
them Middle Eastern
recipes containing meats, fruits and
spices.
The early mince pie was known by
several names, including mutton pie,
shrid pie and Christmas pie. Typically,
its ingredients were a mixture of minced
meat, suet, a range of fruits, and
spices, such as cinnamon, cloves and
nutmeg.
Served around Christmas, the
savoury Christmas pie (as it became
known) was associated with supposed
Catholic ‘idolatry’ and during the
English Civil War was frowned on by
the Puritan authorities.
Nevertheless, the tradition of eating
Christmas pie in December continued
through to the Victorian era, although
by then its recipe had become sweeter
and its size reduced markedly from the
large oblong shape once observed.
Although the modern recipe is no
longer the same list of 13 ingredients
once used (representative of Christ and
his 12 Apostles according to author
Margaret Baker), and lacks the religious
significance of that, the mince pie
remains a popular Christmas treat
today.
Ingredients Makes 12
350g / 12oz high quality mincemeat
200g / 7oz plain flour, sifted
40g / 1½oz golden caster sugar
75g / 2¾oz ground almonds
125g / 4½oz unsalted butter, diced
1 large free-range egg, beaten
Milk, to glaze
Method
1) Lightly butter a 12-hole pie or patty
tin. Tip the mincemeat into a bowl and
stir so that the liquid is evenly
distributed.
2) Place the flour, sugar, almonds and
butter in a food processor and process
briefly until it resembles breadcrumbs,
then slowly add the egg through the
feeder tube. (Or rub the butter into the
dry ingredients by hand and stir in the
egg.)
3) Bring the mixture together with your
hands, wrap in cling film and chill for an
hour or so.
4) Thinly roll out the pastry on a floured
surface. Cut out 12 circles with a fluted
pastry cutter, large enough to fill the
base of the prepared tin. Press gently
into each hole, then fill with the
mincemeat.
5) Cut out another 12 slightly smaller
discs and use to cover the mincemeat.
Press the edges together to seal. Make
a small slit in the top of each, and then
brush lightly with milk. Chill for about
30minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the
oven to 200°C / 400°F / Gas Mark 6.
6) Bake the pies for 20 minutes until
golden brown. Remove to a wire rack
and serve warm.
7) To make the snowflake pattern, place
a festive doily as a template and
sprinkle with icing sugar.
Next Issue:
Pancakes
So, you
think you
know all
about the man in red?
Who was Saint Nicholas?
Feast Day December 6
Saint Nicholas is popular with children all over the
world. He is sometimes known as Kriss Kringle,
which is a corruption of the German Christkindlein
(little Christ child), Père Noël in France, Santa
Claus in America and Father Christmas here in
Britain.
Hundreds of years ago, Nicholas lived in a
seaside town called Myra in the country we now
call Turkey. He studied hard, prayed often, and
followed Jesus by helping the poor.
The people of Myra loved and respected
Nicholas and when their old bishop died, they
elected Nicholas to replace him. He served them
well for a long time.
Nicholas was loved because he loved God and
God's people so much that he would do anything
for them.
An old story about Nicholas
Here is a story about Nicholas that has been
passed down through many generations:
In olden days, when a young woman got
married she had to bring money or
property with her into the marriage. This
is called a dowry.
In the house in our story, there lived a
poor man who had three daughters. He
was so poor, he did not have enough
money for a dowry, so his daughters
couldn't get married.
One night, Nicholas secretly dropped a
bag of gold down the chimney into their
house. The bag fell into a stocking that
had been hung by the fire to dry. It
meant that the oldest daughter was able
to be married. This was repeated later
with the second daughter.
Finally, determined to discover the
person who had given him the money,
the father secretly hid by the fire every
evening until he caught Nicholas
dropping in a bag of gold.
Nicholas begged the man to not tell
anyone what he had done, because he
did not want to bring attention to
himself. But soon the news got out and
when anyone received a secret gift, it
was thought that maybe it was from
Nicholas.
In the story, the bag of gold settled as a ball in
the toe of the stocking and today our stockings
often have a satsuma or tangerine (the golden
fruit) in the toe.
The man who so loved God that he spread joy to others The gift of love
Christmas is fun
because we celebrate
with our families and
friends and because
we can show them
how much we love
them by giving
them special
gifts.
We give
because we're
grateful for
friendship and
love and we’re
grateful to God
for giving us life.
St. Nicholas was
grateful too — so
grateful for the life
God had given him that he just couldn't stop
giving joy and hope to others, no matter how far
he had to travel or how many roofs he had to
climb!
What can you do for others this Christmas?
At Christmas we should try to be more like St
Nicholas. He showed his gratitude for God's gifts
by giving to others. What gifts can you and your
family share with those in greater need?
thespire I 7
POPE FRANCIS and 10 TIPS FOR HAPPINESS Be giving of yourself to others; proceed calmly, beware
pressure always to do better; have and enjoy time off;
Sundays should be holidays; create dignified jobs for young
people; respect and care for nature; don’t be negative,
encourage praise in family life, affirm others; respect other
beliefs; work for peace; keep seeking forgiveness for
yourself and others.
STRANGE POLLS? Normally a Government with dramatic decreases in
unemployment, the economy clearly growing, and an
opposition only just getting its act together, could expect to
be streets ahead in the polls. However, this does not seem
to be the case. Two factors may account for this. Millions
are on Zero Hours Contracts, often earning so little they pay
little or no tax, and the large increase in self employment,
again with people on low incomes. The other reason is
wages. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) suggest that
average weekly wages have fallen £50 in real terms since
2008. Hence Government tax receipts appear to be falling.
Interestingly, the Institute of Directors (IOD) backed the
recent TUC campaign for a wage rise for British workers
and also attacked ‘astronomical’ pay deals for top
executives. IOD members earn about £100,000 a year, but,
as they point out, the average annual pay for the top100
executives is now over £3 million.
DISABILITY and CUTS I declare an interest – with a stepson with learning
difficulties I am aware how things have improved for
disabled people in the past 20 years. But recently things
have gone backwards. The Centre for Welfare Reform
estimates that compared with the average, people with
disabilities have been hit nine times harder by austerity, and
the total hit for those with severe disabilities is 19 times
greater.
Two policies stand out. Two-thirds of those affected by
the bedroom tax have a disabled occupant – this tax is now
widely criticised across the political spectrum – and the
administration of the policy to radically reduce those on
Disability Living Allowance has been described by the
relevant parliamentary select committee as a ‘fiasco’.
ARCHBISHOP’S DOUBTS Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, admitted in public
that he sometimes thinks ‘where is God in all this?’ He
continued, ‘We can’t explain all the questions in the world,
we can’t explain about suffering, we can’t explain loads of
things, but... we can talk about Jesus. I always do that
because most of the other questions I can’t answer.’
VICARS IN THEIR 50s According to recent research C of E vicars are most likely to
quit in their 50s. The statistics also show that churches
flourish most when they are run by priests in their 40s or
60s. We need to keep hold of Peter for a few more years
yet!
CHRISTMAS BLESSING It is time for my favourite Christmas Blessing. ‘You who are
the God of a thousand faces yet whom nothing can reveal
so completely as the face of the child in Bethlehem,
continue in our lives the mystery of your incarnation, that we
may be for all whom we meet a revelation of your love.’ ‘As some of you enjoy doing Sudoku during my sermons,
I challenge you to unravel today’s hymn numbers...’
Vicar’s View Registers
Opinion with Canon Julian Reindorp
We were unable to include
the August and September
funerals in last month’s
edition.
AUGUST
Funerals
20 Ronald William Stiles,
85, Twickenham
22 Isabella Dorothy
Smith, 93,
Twickenham
SEPTEMBER
Funeral
26 Hilda Irene Rogers,
83, Hampton Hill
OCTOBER
Baptisms
25 Harry Freddie David
James Prescott,
Hampton Hill
26 Benjamin Arthur
Griffiths, Sunbury
Funerals
3 Margaret Helena Clark,
88, Hampton Hill
20 Kathleen Brooks, 93,
Hampton Hill
22 Bessie Abbot, 84,
Teddington
28 Alan Arthur Payne,
83, Hampton Hill
What’s On with Nick Bagge
NEW--–————--——————————————————————–———————————–——-
The Snow Queen
Saturday 6-Saturday 13 December, Hampton Hill Playhouse,
90 High Street, Hampton Hill TW12 1NZ
A sparkling adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic
tale traces Gerda’s epic mission to save her friend Kay from
the evil clutches of the Snow Queen. Tickets £9-15, family £35.
teddingtontheatreclub.org.uk or telephone 0845 838 7529 —–-—–————--——————————————————————–———————————–——-
Traidcraft Christmas gifts Sunday 7 December, 10.30-11.30am,
Fitz Wygram Church Hall, St James’s Church, Hampton Hill
Our monthly stall has a good selection of gifts. The catalogue
shows the full range and it’s not too late to order for Christmas! NEW--–————--——————————————————————–———————————–——-
Christingle Service
Sunday 7 December, 9.30am, St James’s Church
This is a great family occasion, when we remember the work of
the Children’s Society and encircle the church with our lighted
Christingles. Children will be given candle-shaped collecting
boxes to take home to fill and return by the end of January. NEW--–————--——————————————————————–———————————–——-
Visitees Tea Party
Tuesday 9 December, 3-4.30pm, St James’s Church
Much-missed friends from St James’s join us for some festive
cheer. Do come and join the party. Catch up on news and
meet long-time friends who can no longer get to church. NEW--–————--——————————————————————–———————————–——-
Teddington Choral Society
Saturday 13 December, 7.30pm, St James’s Church
The programme will include Christmas Truce, Jonathan
Rathbone's oratorio exploring the spontaneous ceasefire at the
front line in France on Christmas Eve 1914. Taking the form of
a narrative by a soldier who was there, it incorporates beautiful
carols, poetry by Edward Thomas and a setting of the 23rd
Psalm. Tickets £12 in advance (concessions £10) available
from Albert’s Music Shop, Heath Road, Twickenham NEW--–————--——————————————————————–———————————–——-
Twickenham Choral Society
Saturday 13 December, 7.30pm, Landmark Arts Centre,
Ferry Road, Teddington TW11 9NN
A concert commemorating the First World War, including works
by Scarlatti, Vaughan Williams and Farrington, and settings of
poetry and prose by Sassoon and Whitman. Tickets £18.
landmarkartscentre.org or 020 8977 7558 NEW--–————--——————————————————————–———————————–——-
Rowan Williams: The Gift of Christmas
Friday 19 December, 7pm, The Meditatio Centre, St Marks,
Myddelton Square, Lonfon EC1R 1XX
In the midst of the frantic consumerism of Christmas, here is a
chance to find peace and reflect on the deeper meaning of the
gift. Tickets £10. Booking essential. Online wccmmeditatio.org
or telephone 020 7278 2070.
Christmas at St James’s Church
NEW--–————--——————————————————————–———————————–——-
Cantanti Camerati Saturday 20 December, 7.30pm, St Mary Magdalene Church,
Paradise Road, Richmond TW9 1SN.
A festive evening of carols, choral arrangements and soloists.
Tickets £12 in advance or on door. Available from Albert’s
Music Shop, Heath Road, Twickenham TW1 4BN. NEW--–————--——————————————————————–———————————–——-
Chapel Royal Choir Sunday 21 December, 4pm, The Chapel Royal, Hampton
Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU
The choir has been enriching life for nearly 500 years. Today's
choir comprises 10 men, who are professional singers, and 14
boys. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is an annual
favourite. There are no tickets. Doors will open at 3.15pm and
worshippers will be seated until the chapel is full. NEW--–————--——————————————————————–———————————–——-
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Sunday 25 January, 6pm, St James’s Church, Hampton Hill
While there are many different Christian churches and
denominations, all have the same basic calling — to worship
God, to share the good news about Jesus and to work for the
good of all people. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is
observed from 18-25 January, the octave of St. Peter and St.
Paul, and this year the united service for all the Hampton and
Hampton Hill churches will be at St James’s. Please support it!
Sunday 21 December
Service of Lessons and Carols 6.30pm
Familiar carols, mince pies and mulled wine
Wednesday 24 December Christmas Eve
Crib Service 4.30pm
The story of the nativity for young and old
Midnight Mass 11pm
Readings from Isaiah 9.2-7; Titus 2.11-14;
Luke 2.1-20
Thursday 25 December Christmas Day
Holy Communion 8am
The Book of Common Prayer
Parish Communion 9.30am
Readings from Hebrews 1.1-4; John 1.1-14
Wednesday 31 December New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve Service 4.30pm
A service that reflects on the past year
and the year to come
My favourite... by Jack Gostling Christmas Music
8 I thespire
Each piece of music evokes vivid memories
M usic has been a very important
part of my life, and in the light of
many decades as a singer, or
performer, or as a member of
the audience at performances, with choirs,
choral societies and at concerts, the
selection of ten pieces of music has not
been easy. However, for the Christmas
season, one magnificent piece must be
outstanding. So my selection ends with
Handel’s Messiah.
1 IL EST NÉ LE DIVIN ENFANT
French traditional carol
I was introduced to this during my spell as a
Community Governor of Hampton Academy,
then called Rectory School.
Its Deputy Head, Netta Forward, had the
idea of a small adult group of parents and
teachers to augment the school choir. This
was an early choice.
Translated into English, the first verse
reads:
He is born, the divine child.
Oboes play, let the pipes resound!
He is born, the divine child.
Let all sing his coming!
For more than four thousand years
The prophets promised him to us.
For more than four thousand years
We were awaiting this happy time.
2 A CHRISTMAS ORATORIO
J S Bach BWV 248
When I first sang this in English with
Hampton Choral Society, I remember the
opening words as Christians be joyful.
Translations from the German vary, but the
music is indeed joyful, and has a delightful
dancing rhythm.
The oratorio was written for performance
on six feast days of Christmas during the
winter of 1734 and 1735. The original score
also contains details of when each part was
performed.
It was incorporated within services of the
two most important churches in Leipzig, St.
Thomas and St. Nicholas, pictured. The
work was only performed in its entirety at the
St. Nicholas.
3 O TANNENBAUM
German folk song
Translated, The Christmas Tree, was
originally the tragic German tale of a broken-
hearted man, betrayed by the woman he
loved. Only the Christmas tree is constant.
My older brother, shot down on a bombing
raid in 1943, and then for two years held as
a prisoner of war, remembered this being
sung by kriegies (Prisoners of War) at camp
concerts.
4 THE CAROL SINGERS
Thomas Sterndale Bennett
A group of optimistic carol-singers waits,
singing to some of the ‘local gentry’, but
sadly unrewarded.
Margery Orton’s book The Birth and
Growth of Hampton Hill states that there
were only five 19th century ‘gentry houses’
in St James’s Road, on the side facing the
Church.
Stretch the imagination: could these chaps
have been serenading outside Willowbrook
(since demolished to form a site on which, in
1956, I built Boundaries for our family
home)? Or, possibly Wayside, now No 25,
restored to its original condition by builder
Steve Croft; who lives there with his wife
Ann and their children?
5 WACHET AUF
J S Bach BWV 140
Also known as Sleepers Wake, this is a
church cantata. A truly rousing call! It is
nowadays set for the 27th Sunday after
Trinity. Only rarely – when Easter falls
between the 22nd and 26th of March – does
the calendar have a 27th Sunday after
Trinity. Bach’s rare opportunity to compose a
work for Trinity 27 came in 1704 when he
was 19. The text of the first movement calls
for all Jerusalem to wake, prepare the feast
and go to meet him. The inhabitants are
called to take up their lamps as the
bridegroom approaches.
6 KING JESUS HATH A GARDEN
Traditional Dutch carol
‘...a garden full of diverse flowers, where
naught is heard but... harp, dulcimer, lute,
trump and cymbal and the tender soothing
flute.’ Set to a Dutch tune; a lovely lilting
melody, and a pleasant conceit.
A pity that, in our garden at least, the reality
is so often spoiled by aircraft and by
traffic noise on the A316.
7 RADETZKY MARCH
Johann Strauss I
The New Year’s Concert, live from Vienna,
revolves around the waltzes and polkas of
the Strauss family. Dedicated to Field-
Marshal Joseph Radetzky, this has been a
staple favourite, the audience restrained
from applause until eventually invited by the
conductor to join in, clapping in rhythm with
the final reprise (plus, generally, at least one
encore).
8 CHE GELIDA MANIÑA
Giacomo Puccini
This aria, translated as Your tiny hand is
frozen, comes from the opera La Boheme.
The Christmas celebration of Mimi, a
maker of artificial flowers, the poet Rodolfo,
the musician Schaunard, and philosopher
Colline, is set in the painter Mardello’s garret
in Paris. The latter three go for a meal,
leaving Mimi and Rodolfo alone in the icy
garret. She is unwell: he seeks to warm her
hands... First performed in February 1896.
9 DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH
George Ratcliffe Woodward
In the early 1940s, our family building firm
was asked to form the ringing chamber of
the newly built tower of All Hallows Church,
Twickenham, pictured above.
The tower and its bells had been moved
from All Hallows, Lombard Street. I got
involved at the age of 17, when the bells
were swung without clappers to test the
effect. (The ringing of all the bells would
have been a signal that an invasion had
begun) A clever instrument revealed that the
tower swayed by about 16mm: barely
noticeable, and structurally quite safe.
10 UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN
George Frideric Handel
The opening of this magnificent oratorio
marks a change of mood from quiet
reverence to exaltation. Every Valley Shall
be Exalted (exquisitely rendered over many
years by our own David Taylor), the
Hallelujah Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb and
the final Amen Chorus — all are favourites.
For three memorable years I was among
700 voices who sang Messiah at the Royal
Albert Hall, under the baton of Charles
Farncombe, to raise money for the Malcolm
Sargent Cancer Fund for Children. On one
of these occasions my son, John, joined me.